6.0 Registration and degree planning

Course registration occurs each term with a step-by-step process beginning part way through one term and ending with tuition and fee payment. Ohio State University students register for classes using the university’s registration system that is accessed via BuckeyeLink. Students must officially register for the classes they attend.

General registration requirements

Students should plan out the courses they wish to take in consultation with their academic advisor. One of the main functions of academic advisors is to help students select courses that best suit the student’s individual capabilities and educational goals. Students should arrange an appointment with their advisor in advance of registration to discuss their following term's course schedule.

Students are required to meet with their academic advisor at least one time per year (between July 1 and June 30). Students who do not meet this requirement will have a "Registration Lock Hold" (preventing registration, adding classes or moving off a wait list) placed on their Buckeyelink account until they meet with their academic advisor.

The date and time in when students can enroll in Ohio State University courses for a given term is referred to as the “enrollment appointment”. The Registrar’s office will send students an email notification about the date/time of their enrollment appointment.

Prior to registering for courses each term, students are required to complete a Student Responsibility Statement. A Registration Lock Hold is placed on the student’s Buckeyelink until the statement is completed, preventing registration, adding classes or moving off a wait list. Once registration appointments are assigned each term, a student can complete the Financial Statement of Responsibility online.

If a student has a hold on their account (overdue library book, parking ticket, etc.), they must have it cleared before their enrollment appointment begins. Contacting the office that has placed the hold on their account is the responsibility of the student.

Tips for successful course registration

  • Students register for classes online. Organizing  course selections before accessing the registration system will save considerable time.
  • Before registering for classes in Buckeyelink, students should identify the courses and specific sections of the courses they plan to add to their schedule.
  • Students should be sure to include alternative courses in the event the courses they select are full.
  • Students should register immediately at the start of their enrollment appointment. Every minute a student waits to schedule after their enrollment appointment begins, other students who have lower priority have a chance to register for the course before the student with a higher registration priority.
  • Because registration is live, students will know immediately whether they have successfully enrolled in a class. It is very important to be prepared with backup times and alternate choices for classes the student is interested in taking, in case the section they want is full.

Considerations in planning a schedule

Why are you taking the course?

Is the course required for a desired pre-major or major? Is it a prerequisite to a required pre- major or major course? Does the course meet a GE requirement?

Are you eligible to take the course?

Students should check prerequisites and restrictions in the Course Catalog. The web registration system does not always check; students are responsible for making sure they are eligible to take a course.

Is instructor permission needed?

If instructor permission is required for course enrollment, students should obtain permission from the course instructor before the student’s enrollment appointment begins, or they will not be able to add the course to their schedule. Obtaining permission requires completing a course enrollment permission form from the Registrar’s website. It must be signed by the instructor. After getting the appropriate signature, students must either email the form to their academic advisor or they can physically bring it to Cunz Hall, Room 100. Some instructors are willing to send the student an email providing authorization for the student to be added to their course. These emails can be forwarded to one of the academic advisors so the advisor can add the course when the enrollment appointment is open for the student.

Online scheduling (BuckeyeLink)

Ohio State students register for classes using BuckeyeLink. Use this website to:

  • Check grades
  • Review financial aid status
  • Review statement of account (fees)
  • Change address
  • Manage Ohio State University Internet username account
  • View class schedule
  • Link to valuable university resources
  • Check class schedule weekly before the term starts
  • Check class schedule daily during the entire first week of classes
  • Check waitlist status

Additional scheduling resources

These resources will help keep students keep on track with their major, GE requirements and progress toward graduation.

Waitlist

When a course is full, students have the option to put themselves on the waitlist. The waitlist will be active through the first Friday of the term. Students should attend the first week of class if their wait list number is low.

It is the student’s responsibility to know whether they have been added to a class by checking BuckeyeLink.

Schedule planner

The schedule planner is a web-based class scheduling system that allows students to select courses from the schedule of classes and block out "breaks" or time they need to set aside during the day for studying, extra-curricular activities, work schedules, internships, athletics, etc. Schedule planner is integrated with student information system and is linked from the main Buckeyelink page.

BSPH curriculum guides

View curriculum guides

Buckeye Degree Planner and advising reports (unofficial transcripts)

The Buckeye Degree Planner is a tool to assist students and advisors with determining how courses the student completed fulfill General Education and major course requirements. Advising reports are unofficial transcripts and include a listing of courses a student completed and grades earned according to the term taken. Students can run their own degree planner. Here are instructions on how to view your degree plan. Students can view their own advising reports in their BuckeyeLink.

Adding classes

Once a student’s enrollment appointment begins, they can add classes (if they are still open) until the end of first Friday of the term.

For important add and drop dates for each term, visit the University Registrar and select “Important Dates.”

Late course adds

After the second Friday and through the third Friday, a student must have the permission of the instructor AND the permission of the department or division chair (in the case of College of Public Health courses) of the course. This requires completing a course enrollment permission form and obtaining the required signatures. Once completed (with all signatures), the form must be submitted to Cunz Hall, Room 100.

In order to add a course after the third Friday, students must submit a petition. To support the petition, students must have the above two signatures, as well as valid reasons for failure to timely enroll in the course.

Students will be charged late-add fees of $100 for each class added after the second Friday of classes.

Dropping classes

Students can drop classes themselves online (via BuckeyeLink) during the first four weeks (up to and including the fourth Friday) of each term.

After the fourth Friday and through the 10th Friday of the term, classes can only be dropped by staff in the OAPSS office (e.g., by a student’s advisor). Before dropping classes, students should consider how this would affect both their progress toward their degree and their financial aid status (if applicable). They may wish to consult with a Student Service Center advisor or an academic advisor about the consequences of dropping a course.

If courses are dropped on or before the fourth Friday, no record of enrollment in the course will be recorded on the student’s transcript. If the course is dropped after the fourth Friday of the term, the student will receive a "W" on their transcript, indicating they withdrew. Too many Ws on a student’s record may suggest a pattern of careless enrollment.

Courses cannot be dropped after the 10th Friday without a petition. If, because of extreme extenuating circumstances, a student wishes to drop a class after the 10th Friday, they need to meet with an academic advisor and complete the petition form. The student will need supporting evidence (proof, for example, of medical complications that will prevent the student from finishing the course). Students are required to include documentation from the course instructor indicating their last day of participation as part of their petition.

Courses cannot be dropped after the 10th week if:

  • A grade of D or higher was earned
  • The student completed the course final
  • The student was dissatisfied with their final course grade

Students should carefully consider the potential implications of dropping below full-time status. A reduction in hours due to a course drop may affect:

  • Financial aid (including scholarships, grants, loans and consortium agreements)
  • Benefits received under the G.I. Bill — Office of Veteran Student Services
  • Tuition reduction received when a parent works for the university
  • Automobile insurance if a student is receiving discounts for being a full-time student
  • Health insurance, if a student needs to maintain full-time status to be covered under a parent’s policy
  • Residence hall contract
  • Tuition waiver if the student is also a university employee
  • Athletic eligibility. Student athletes must see their assigned Student Athlete Support Services Office (SASSO) advisor
  • Visa. International students may be required to see an advisor in the Office of International Affairs for approval.

Students should contact the appropriate office before dropping below full-time status. Students should consult with the Student Service Center (SSC) and their academic advisor about the consequences of dropping courses.

Drop for non-payment

The Ohio State University drops classes for students who still have outstanding balances on their accounts after the second Friday of classes each term. Outstanding balances can include current term tuition and fees and any prior term balances. The University Registrar provides an explanation of fees, adjustments and refunds.

Options for multiple majors

Students choose a second major or dual (or second) degree for a variety of reasons: personal interest in the subject matter, development of knowledge and skills required for further education or for a career, or preparation for graduate or professional school. Students should talk to their advisor about the feasibility of pursuing a second major or dual/second degree and to discuss specific requirements.

Students pursuing two majors should consider early on whether they wish to complete a single degree with two majors or two degrees.

Single degree with two majors

A single degree with two majors leads to a single diploma, though both majors are noted on the student’s record and transcript.

  • The student must meet the requirements for each major as set by the departments offering the majors
  • Each major must contain at least 18 credit hours not contained in the other
  • Overlap with the GE may be permitted where appropriate. Interested students should consult their academic advisors for more information
  • Students must complete at least 121 credit hours to earn a single degree with two majors

Two degrees

Pursuit of two degrees leads to the award of two diplomas. The degrees will be designated separately on the student’s record and transcript.

  • The student must meet the requirements for each major as set by the college's offering the majors
  • Students cannot overlap courses from either major
  • Students must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the total required for one degree (i.e., earn at least 151-156 hours)
  • Students must fulfill all degree requirements for both degrees
  • Overlap between either major and the GE is not permitted, unless specifically allowed by a particular GE category
  • An approved petition is required to graduate with two degrees

Grade forgiveness rule

The rule permits students to petition to repeat up to three courses. The grade in the repeated course will replace the grade for the original course in the calculation of the student’s cumulative point-hour ratio. (Note: Only a first repeat can be used this way.) Students should meet with an advisor to discuss completing the petition form online. Permission to apply this rule must be obtained by submitting the grade forgiveness petition to the University’s Registrar’s office no later than the 10th Friday of the semester or summer term (the 10th Friday of a session during autumn or spring semesters, or a summer session; or the first Friday of a Four Week 1 session) in which the repeated course is taken.

A notation of the original grade will remain on the student’s transcript.

Repeating a course

Students may repeat any course once, regardless of the grade they received and when the course was first completed. If a student does not qualify for the grade forgiveness rule, both grades will count in the student’s cumulative grade-point average. Credit for the course may be counted only once in the minimum total hours required for graduation.

Auditing a course

A student may choose to audit a course for a refresher on the material or to learn more about a subject without earning a letter grade. Fees are assessed for auditing a course, but no credit hours are awarded. Students cannot audit a course and then later take the course for a grade. Auditing a course requires the permission of the instructor.

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